Georgians get more than $2 billion in VA benefits

Department of Veterans Services

February 15, 2008 02:57 pm

— ATLANTA – According to fiscal years figures recently obtained from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Georgia veterans who qualified under federal law benefited in over $2.25 billion that the VA spent in Georgia during 2007.
It represents an increase of almost $100 million in VA funds over fiscal year 2006.
The total spent included some $1.22 billion in pension and compensation payments made to disabled veterans and/or their dependents.
“This is especially good news for those veterans and dependents living on fixed incomes because these payments are tax exempt,” points out Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler.
VA also spent about $750 million in support of health care for Georgia veterans and some $174 million in education assistance to Georgia veterans and/or dependents.
During 2007, some 185,000 Georgia veterans received health care through the VA’s Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics located in the state. Currently, there are more than 160,000 veterans, surviving spouses and dependents receiving tax free monetary benefits from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Commissioner Wheeler reminds Georgia veterans, “No VA benefit is paid automatically. They all must be applied for and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service is available to assist with that application process.”
As of September 2006, VA estimates Georgia’s veteran population at 759,684.
Locations of Department of Veterans Service offices may be found under state government in the local telephone directory or on the department’s web site at Georgia rewww.sdvs.georgia.gov.